Diablo Swing Orchestra

Diablo Swing Orchestra
Diablo Swing Orchestra playing at Global East Rock Festival 2010
Background information
Origin	Sweden
Genres	Avant-garde metal, symphonic metal, progressive metal, swing revival
Years active	2003 - Present
Labels	Guillotine Grooves (2003–2009) Candlelight Records (2006–2009) Sonic Cathedral (2006–2009) Ascendance Records (since 2009)
Website	www.diabloswing.com
Members
Daniel Håkansson Pontus Mantefors Annlouice Loegdlund Andy Johansson Johannes Bergion Petter Karlsson Daniel Hedin Martin Isaksson
Past members
Andreas Halvardsson

Diablo Swing Orchestra is a Swedish avant-garde metal band. The band was formed in 2003.^[1] They have released two albums: The Butcher's Ballroom in 2006, and Sing Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious in 2009.^[2]

Diablo Swing Orchestra playing at Global East Rock Festival 2010

Mythology

The origin of the name of the band is related on their website. The tongue-in-cheek back-story recounts a historically questionable ancestral story beginning in 16th century Sweden. Supposedly, ancestors of the band members performed orchestral works in defiance of the ruling church at the time (possibly in reference to the newly installed protestant Lutheran national church, in power during the mid and late 16th century). The orchestra was forced to go into hiding, performing in secret, with the assistance of oppressed peasants during the era. After years of performing for the pleasure of these peasants, the story claims that the church put a bounty on the performers' lives, and that this bounty was so high that the orchestra knew they would soon be captured, and thus chose to play a spectacular final show before becoming martyred to the church.^[1]

While this account is historically unsupported (see Foundation of Modern Sweden) it does provide a backdrop to DSO's eclectic musical style.^{[citation needed]}

History

The Butcher's Ballroom (2006–2009)

Through the band's official page on Myspace, they offered free downloads of a number of tracks from their debut album in promotion of The Butcher's Ballroom.^{[citation needed]} The tracks released on the page were as follows: "Heroines", "Balrog Boogie" and "Poetic Pitbull Revolutions" — the latter of which was added to the playlist months later.^{[citation needed]} In July 2008 the band played at Summer Breeze Open Air in Germany and in October 2008 at Metal Female Voices Fest in Belgium.^[3]

Diablo Swing Orchestra playing at Global East Rock Festival 2010

Sing Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious (2009-present)

In early spring 2009, the band announced that they were returning to the studio, and made a number of cryptic video blogs to document their efforts. On June 30, 2009 they announced that the cover art for the album would be made by Swedish illustrator Peter Bergting, noted for being the author of The Portent.^[4][5] The track "A Tap Dancer's Dilemma" was made available through the band's MySpace page on July 7, 2009.^[3][6] They also announced that two Special Edition prints of the album would be available to pre-order along with the regular album. Both of the Special Edition copies came in an 8 panel digipac containing the CD, a 12 page booklet and a Bonus DVD.^[7] The Special Limited Edition was restricted to only 300 orders, and came with an additional pack of postcards, vinyl sticker, and a Dog Tag embossed with the band's logo and a number between 1-300, unique to the owner.^[7] Sing Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious was released on September 21, 2009, and on October 2 the band played a special album-launch gig at The Purple Turtle club in Camden, London.^[5]

On January 18, 2010 Diablo Swing Orchestra announced that their drummer, Andreas Halvardsson, had stepped down from his role due to "personal reasons" and would be replaced by Petter Karlsson, who is best known for his work with Swedish metal act, Therion.^[8][9] Diablo Swing Orchestra expect pre-production of their third album to begin towards the end of 2010.^[8][9] On July 17, 2010 the band played at Circo Volador, Mexico City.

On August 14, 2010 the band played at Brutal Assault Open Air in the Czech Republic with the new lineup.^[10]

In January, 2011, Sing Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious was nominated in the Eclectic Album category in The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards. The song "A Tap Dancer's Dilemma" was also nominated for the Metal/Hardcore category.^[11]

On January 24, 2011 the band announced on Facebook that Daniel Hedin and Martin Isaksson have joined their ranks as full time members.

On October 9, 2011, the bands revealed their 3rd album title "Pandora's Piñata".

Members

• Daniel Håkansson – guitars, vocals (2003-)
• Pontus Mantefors – guitars, FX (2003-)
• Annlouice Loegdlund – vocals (2003-)
• Andy Johansson – bass (2003-)
• Johannes Bergion – cello (2003-)
• Petter Karlsson – drums (2010-)
• Daniel Hedin – trombone (2011-)
• Martin Isaksson – trumpet (2011-)

Former members

• Andreas Halvardsson – drums (2003–2010)

Discography

• Borderline Hymns – EP (2003)
• The Butcher's Ballroom (2006)
• Sing Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious (2009)
• Pandora's Piñata (2012)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Candlelight Records". Candlelight Records. July 11, 2007. http://www.candlelightrecords.co.uk/candleweb/redesign/candle_diablo.htm. Retrieved March 12, 2009. 
2. ^ "Diablo Swing Orchestra". BBC Music. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/af723a8a-d3db-46c2-82a3-201dde8fa27f. Retrieved January 19, 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Diablo Swing Orchestra: new song posted online". Blabbermouth. July 8, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=123287. Retrieved January 19, 2010. 
4. ^ Diablo Swing Orchestra (June 30, 2009). "Sing Along Songs album art & special editions revealed". MySpace. http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=86177545&blogId=497806755. Retrieved January 18, 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Diablo Swing Orchestra: new album artwork unveiled". Blabbermouth. June 30, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122849. Retrieved January 19, 2010. 
6. ^ "New Diablo Swing Orchestra and Whyzdom tracks online + pre-order info". Ascendance Records. July 7, 2009. http://ascendancerecords.com/site/news/new-diablo-swing-orchestra-and-whyzdom-tracks-online-pre-order-info. Retrieved January 19, 2010. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Diablo Swing Orchestra & Whyzdom pre-orders". Ascendance Records. February 11, 2008. http://ascendancerecords.com/site/news/79/. Retrieved January 19, 2010. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Diablo Swing Orchestra (January 18, 2010). "Petter Karlsson to replace Andreas Halvardsson as DSO drummer". MySpace. http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=86177545&blogId=526332370. Retrieved January 19, 2010. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "Diablo Swing Orchestra parts ways with drummer, announces replacement". Blabbermouth. January 19, 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=133658. Retrieved January 19, 2010. 
10. ^ "Diablo Swing Orchestra". Brutal Assault Open Air. http://brutalassault.cz/en/bands/diablo-swing-orchestra/. Retrieved January 19, 2010. 
11. ^ http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/artist/diablo-swing-orchestra

External links

• Official website
• Interview 2007